Hormone replacement therapy after myocardial infarction: British Menopause Society Tool for Clinicians.

This article discusses the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women who have previously had a myocardial infarction (MI). The article explains that estrogen, the main component of HRT, has benefits for arterial health, including improving vascular function and reducing atheroma formation. Studies have shown that when HRT is initiated in women below the age of 60 or within 10 years of menopause, it can reduce the progression of atherosclerosis and coronary events. The article also addresses the use of HRT in women with existing arterial disease and suggests that low-dose estrogen, preferably non-oral, combined with a non-androgenic progestogen, may be safe for women who have had an MI. The article concludes by providing practice points for clinicians, including the importance of appropriate dosing, the choice of progestogen, the route of administration, and the potential benefits of co-administering a statin. [Extracted from the article]